A 68-year-old long-time smoker with chronic bronchitis reports for preoperative evaluation. He is breathing deeply and slowly at nine times per minute. As a result of chronic bronchitis, this patient's work of breathing is
A. Increased due to work needed to overcome elastic resistance
B. Decreased due to less work needed to overcome elastic resistance
C. Increased due to work needed to overcome flow resistance
D. Decreased due to less work needed to overcome flow resistance
E. Not changed